COURSE OUTLINE

Department & Faculty: Department of Communication

Engineering, FKE
Course Code: SKEE3533 Communication Principles

Page : 1 of 4

Semester: 1
Academic Session: 2015/2016

Total Contact Hours: 42 hours

Section
01 & 02
03 & 04
05 & 06
07 & 08
09 & 10
11 & 12
Synopsis

Lecturer
Dr. Rashidah @ Siti Saedah
Arsat
Dr. Noor Asniza Murad
Dr. Nadiatulhuda Zulkifli
PM. Dr. Ir. Shahrul Kamal A
Rahim
PM. Dr. Razali Ngah
Dr. Noor Asmawati Samsuri
:

Room (Ext.Phone)
P19a 05-02-10 (57168)

Email
rashidah@fke.utm.my

P19a 04-03-16 (57037)

P19a 03-05-02 (57202)
P05-208 (WCC) (35227)

asniza@fke.utm.my
nadia@fke.utm.my
sharulkamal@fke.utm.my

P15-120 WCC (36089)

P19a 04-03-12 (57206)

razalin@fke.utm.my
asmawati@fke.utm.my

This course introduces the students the basic principles of communication

system. The fundamental concepts of analogue modulation in particular
amplitude and frequency modulations will be strongly emphasized. Topics
include types of modulated waveforms, transmitter and receiver structures.
The two most significant limitations on the performance of a
communications system; bandwidth and noise will be discussed. The concept
of sampling, quantization and line coding techniques in rendering an
information signal to be compatible with a digital system are explained prior
to the study of coded pulse modulation and pulse code modulation (PCM).
The waveforms and spectral analysis of bandpass digital modulations are
introduced. The system performance in terms of bit error rate (BER) will also
be covered. Finally, multiplexing, a method to utilize the communication
resource efficiently is studied where two techniques will be explored; timedivision and frequency-division multiplexing.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
Programme
Outcome

Taxonomies
and
Soft-Skills

Assessment
Methods

No.

Course Learning Outcome

CO1

Describe the analogue and digital modulation

with the aid of time and frequency domain
analyses

C2

T, HW, F

CO2

Explain the concept of analogue and digital

communication transmitter and receiver block
diagram

C2

T, HW, F

Prepared by:
Name: Dr Nadiatulhuda Zulkifli
Signature:
Date: 23/08/2015

Certified by:
Name: PM Dr Norazan Mohd Kassim
Signature:
Date:

COURSE OUTLINE
Department & Faculty: Department of
Communication Engineering, FKE
Course Code: SKEE3533 Communication Principles

Page : 2 of 4

Semester: 1
Academic Session: 2015/2016

Total Contact Hours: 42 hours

CO3

Apply the concept of modulation and

multiplexing techniques within communication
system design.

CO4

Describe the effect of noise in communication

system

CO5

Use software tools to solve problems in

communication system

CO6

Review relevant telecommunication scenarios

to address global impact and professional
engineering issues

C3,P4,A2,
CTPS1-3

T, HW, F

C2

T, HW, F

P4, A2

HW

CS1-CS4,
TW1, LL1

PR, Pr

PO1

PO9

(T Test ; PR Project ; Q Quiz; HW Homework ; Pr Presentation; F Final Exam)

STUDENT LEARNING TIME (SLT)

Teaching and Learning Activities

Student Learning Time (hours)

1. Face-to-Face Learning
a. Lecturer-Centered Learning
i. Lecture

39

b. Student-Centered Learning (SCL)

i. Laboratory/Tutorial

ii. Student-centered learning activities Active

Learning, Project Based Learning
2. Self-Directed Learning
a. Non-face-to-face learning or student-centered learning
(SCL) such as manual, assignment, module, e-Learning,
etc.

32

b. Revision

28

c. Assessment Preparations

11.5

3. Formal Assessment
a. Continuous Assessment (inclusive of presentation)
b. Final Exam
Total (SLT)

4
2.5

120

COURSE OUTLINE
Department & Faculty: Department of
Communication Engineering, FKE
Course Code: SKEE3533 Communication Principles

Page : 3 of 4

Semester: 1
Academic Session: 2015/2016

Total Contact Hours: 42 hours

TEACHING METHODOLOGY
-

Lecture, tutorial and discussion

Individual Assignment, Written Test and Final Examination.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Week 1 - 2
(6 to 10 Sep,
13 to 17 Sep)

Introduction to Communication System: Classification of signals, Types of

Channels, Modulation, Comparison of digital and analogue communication, Noise
in communication systems.

Week 3
(20 to 24 Sep)

Amplitude Modulation (AM): Introduction, AM with carrier, Modulation index,

Frequency spectrum, Bandwidth, Power

Week 4
(27 Sep to 1 Oct)

Amplitude Modulation (AM): Transmission and reception of AM signals, Types of

AM, Noise in AM.

Week 5
(4 to 8 Oct)

Angle Modulation: Introduction, Frequency Modulation (FM), Phase Modulation

(PM), Modulation index, Bessel function, Frequency spectrum

Week 6
(11 to 15 Oct)

FM: Bandwidth, Narrowband and Wideband FM, Power, Transmitter, Receiver,

Noise in FM
Test 1 (AM and FM)

Week 7
(18 to 22 Oct)

Pulse Modulation: Introduction and Sampling Theorem

Week 8 - 9
(25 to 29 Oct,
1 to 5 NOV)

Pulse Code Modulation (PCM): Sampling, Quantization (uniform and non-uniform),

Coding and Quantization error. Delta modulation. Line Coding (NRZ, RZ,
Manchester)

Week 10
(8 to 14 Nov)

MID SEMESTER BREAK

Week 11-12
(15 to 19 Nov,
22 to 26 Nov)

Digital Modulation: Introduction to Digital Communication System. ASK, FSK, PSK,

QPSK and M-ary. Bit Error rate (BER)

COURSE OUTLINE
Department & Faculty: Department of
Communication Engineering, FKE

Page : 4 of 4

Course Code: SKEE3533 Communication Principles

Semester: 1
Academic Session: 2015/2016

Total Contact Hours: 42 hours

Week 13-14
(29 Nov to 3 Dec,
6 to 10 Dec)

Digital Communication System: Multiplexing: FDM, TDM

Test 2 (Pulse Modulation, PCM and Digital Modulation)

Week 15
(13 to 17 Dec)

Advances in Analog/Digital Communications System.

Week 16-20
(20 to 26 Dec,
28 Dec to 17 Jan
2016)

Revision and Final Examination Weeks

-FINAL EXAM (C3,CTPS3)-

REFERENCES :
1. B. P. Lathi and Zhi Ding, Modern Digital and Analog Communication Systems, 4th Edition, Oxford
University Press.
2. Rozeha et al, Prinsip Kejuruteraan Telekomunikasi, Penerbit UTM.
3. Abu Sahmah Mohd Supaat et al, Principles of Communication, Pearson.
4. Leon Couch, Digital and Analog Communication Systems, Pearson.
5. R. E. Ziemer and W. H. Tranter, Principles of Communications 5th Edition, John Wiley & Sons Inc.
6. S. Haykin, Communication Systems 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons Inc.

GRADING:
Item
Assignments, Presentation &
Participation

Mark(%)

No of test/quiz/assignment

Duration

30

Test 1 (week 6)

10

1 hour

Test 2 (week 13)

10

1 hour

Final Exam

50

2.5 hours